Job Discussion Forums

[jenny74]

Hello all,

I'm considering where to teach EFL next. Just did a stint in Eritrea as a volunteer but now I'd like to make an actual salary. Where in Latin America can you actually make a decent living, enough to put a little bit aside?

[MELEE]

It depends on your qualifications.

But over all, to me it seems like Mexico--though there are some good jobs in every country. It just seems like there are more in Mexico.

[Justin Trullinger]

I've always thought that's because Mexico is BIG!

But be warned. THere are precious few latin american countries where you can put much aside by first world standards. I have a good job, and save a bit each month. Enough to do a lot with, locally. But if I took what I've saved back "home," it wouldn't add up to much... which is okay with me, because here is home now...


Best,
Justin

[naturegirl321]

It depends on your lifestyle. Also who you live with. My husband and I are able to live off his Peruvian salary and save all of mine.

Depends also on who you know, contacts count a lot here.

Basically in Peru, you can earn about 500 to 700 USD a month, maybe save a couple hundred.

I think that they big money places are Mexico, Argentina and Ecuador, but by big money, that's not much. If you want to save head off to Japan, Korea or Taiwan.

[Justin Trullinger]

In terms of big money, Ecuador tends to pay somewhat better than Peru, but don't forget that it's one of Latin America's most expensive countries....

Most teachers probably don't save more than a couple of hundred a month here either.

Best,
Justin

[naturegirl321]

What helped me save is my husband. WE follow a strict budget. Also living together is cheaper than living apart.

[matttheboy]

chile, maybe, even probably can be more than livable- if you're lucky. but getting lucky usually (but not always) means living in santiasco....sorry, santiago...and that just isn't good luck in my book...from what i've read on this forum for the past few years, mexico seems a decent bet as well. ecuador, as justin says, is possible but it's almost as expensive as chile now and general all round standard of living is definitely lower. but ecuador is more of a 'latin' country (or at least what you might expect out of south america) and is probably a better experience...choices, choices, choices...

[Justin Trullinger]

[jenny74]

thank you for all the helpful information. As for my qualifications, I have a BA in English, 3 years teaching experience, mostly in Africa, and I'm registered for a TEFL cert with Oxford Semiars. What I'm looking for is a quiet beach town (not into partying or big city life) where I can have time to work on my novel. I just spent a hectic year teaching in Eritrea. It was well, insane, and I need a quiet place to rest. Can I find this in Mexico?????

[davechile]

What do you mean when you say Equador is more "Latin"? I am curious in relation to central america+south america.

[davechile]

[matttheboy]

ecuador is more what you would expect a latin american country to be like-the faces of the people, the energy, the music, the poverty, the wealth of the lucky few, the colonial architecture etc. it's so expensive because the economy was dollarised back in 2001 (??). prices for a decent meal in a nice restaurant are not far off what you'd pay for the same in chile (from what i've heard recently from people i still know in ecuador) but the quality of everything is much lower than in chile.

chile is a really beautiful country and you can, apparently, make enough money as a teacher to get by and travel a little-i haven't worked as a teacher here beyond a couple of private classes and that was 3 years ago. chilean pesos are worth something in the outside world. but chile is not a typical latin american experience and the people, especially around santiago and heading south are not your typical latinos-not as much fun, more serious. musical tastes are pretty much the same as in the us or uk. there's not really a great energy here that you feel in every other latin american country. but chile works quite well, there's little corruption, the police are honest and trustworthy, there's a growing middle class, most people own a car, poverty is not as obvious as in other countries in the region, basic foods and goods are of first world quality.

and santiago is a horrible city for many, many reasons.

[nineisone]

Dave Chile,

I would guess the reference to Ecuador being a more "latin" country would be in part because it has a greater indigenous population than most of the Southern cone countries(chile,argentina, uruguay, paraguay). The "Latin" influence is really quite true with any of the Andes/Inca nations, Peru and Bolivia included. The Southern cone states tend to have more independent economies, suffer less from the neo-colonialism from big daddy up north via the IMF and WB, and culturally impart a stronger European feel.

In regards to Ecuador being expensive, I would guess this has something to do with the currency conversion to the dollar? Justin can probably answer this best. I recall that 5-10 years ago Ecuador was considered one of the cheapest of South American nations. Then again, 10 years ago Argentina was far too expensive for backpackers before their economy collapsed. Instability and constant change always have me keeping my eye on the pages of The Economist for the latest trends down south.

[MELEE]

I've actually always felt that Ecuador, Bolivia and Highland Peru (not the coast) as less Latin. Because I think what most people think of as Latin Culture is more like Colombian, Venezuelan, and Central American(except I'd put Guatemala in the Indengious rather than Latin field), and then to a less extent the Southern Cone countries. Where as Ecuador, Bolivia and Highland Peru are more indenginous and not so much "latino"

[naturegirl321]